Efect of feed particle size and solvent fow rate on soybean oil extraction in a percolation type extractor.

The infuence of particle size and solvent fow
rate on the kinetics of oil extraction from soybean (eight
fractions from 0.433 to 0.122 mm) was studied using hex�ane, simulating commercial percolation type extractor.
The reduction in particle size from 0.433 mm to 0.141 mm
showed an increase in the oil yield. However, further reduc�tion to 0.129 mm and 0.122 mm afected the yield due to bed
compaction, reducing porosity and contact area. The yield
(21.5%) of the ground mass was similar to the major mass
fractions (0.239–0.353 mm). The rate of extraction increased
drastically with the solvent fow rate. The highest fow rate
(9.67 mL/min) exhibited the highest mass transfer coef�cient (km) 1.62× 10–3 s
−1 and the difusion coefcient (De)
1.77× 10–12 m2
/s. At 7.33 mL/min, the yield and the rate
of extraction were optimal and no potential benefts were
obtained at higher fow rates.